This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

On today’s exam, first we’ll give the masculine and then the feminine version.

According to the Wikipedia page Knygnešiai, between 1866 and 1904 Russian authorities instituted a Lithuanian press ban in Lithuania. The Russians attempted to replace the Lithuanian alphabet with the Russian or cyrillic alphabet.

The Lithuanian people responded with knygnešiai a combination of the word knyga – book and the verb nešti – to carry.

Knygnešiai – were people who smuggled printed materials from Lithuania minor and the United States into Lithuanian speaking areas of Imperial Russia. The knygnešiai, or singular: knygnešys, became a symbol of the resistance of the Lithuanians against Russification.

When caught, knygnešiai were punished by fines, banishment, and exile, including deportation to Siberia. Some were shot while crossing the border into Lithuania.

So, in order to say, I see my wife, you might be tempted to say, aš matau mano žmoną. That’s perfectly logical – but it’s wrong. The reason is that in Lithuanian, when we talk about possession, such as, my wife, his wife, your wife, etcetera, we have to be aware of the subject of the sentence.

I see my wife.

In this sentence, my wife, is the object which receives the action of the verb – to see.

My wife is being seen.

The subject is I.

I am the subject and my wife is the object, who is being seen.

I see my wife.

In this sentence “I” and “my” have a lot in common. Both words refer to me. In English, I see my wife sounds fine but in Lithuanian this is unnecessary repetiton.

Since we started the sentence with, I see – aš matau, we don’t need to say, “mano žmoną.”

Here we use the word savo in place of mano and the meaning is clear.

I see my wife

aš matau savo žmoną

We don’t want to repeat a reference to the subject of the sentence which in this case is “I.”

This episode is part of a series of programs we'll give you focused on food and drink. This is a big subject so we'll break it down into bite-sized bits. Every episode in this series will go over 10 words in Lithuanian. This series will be short, fast and to the point. Enjoy!

bread

duona

I'd like bread

norėčiau duonos

I don't want bread

nenoriu duonos

coffee

kava

I'd like coffee

norėčiau kavos

I don't want coffee

nenoriu kavos

milk

pienas

I'd like milk

norėčiau pieno

I don't want milk

nenoriu pieno

tea

arbata

I'd like tea

norėčiau arbatos

I don't want tea

nenoriu arbatos

juice

sultys

I'd like juice

norėčiau sulčių

I don't want juice

nenoriu sulčių

toast

skrebutis

I'd like toast

norėčiau skrebučio

I don't want toast

nenoriu skrebučio

sausage

dešrelė

sausages

dešrelės

I'd like a sausage

norėčiau dešrelės

I'd like sausages

norėčiau dešrelių

I don't want sausages

nenoriu dešrelių

sandwich

sumuštinis

sandwiches

sumuštiniai

I'd like a sandwich

norėčiau sumuštinio

I'd like sandwiches

norėčiau sumuštinių

I don't want a sandwich

nenoriu sumuštinio

scrambled eggs

plakta kiaušinienė

I'd likescrambled eggs

norėčiau plaktos kiaušinienės

I don't wantscrambled eggs

nenoriu plaktos kiaušinienės

fresh

šviežias / šviežia

fresh fruit

švieži vaisiai

I'd like fresh fruit

norėčiau šviežio vaisiaus

I don't want fresh fruit

nenoriu šviežio vaisiaus

Šaunuoliai! Great! You made it to the end of another episode! Tikras stebuklas!

(note: This episode has been updated since its first release. Now there is a pause after the English and before the Lithuanian)

Hi there, I’m Gintarė and I’m Jack, and welcome back to Lithuanian Out Loud where we offer the world the Lithuanian language.

Photograph: Simona Krupeckaitė of Lithuania shows her excitement after winning the Keirin World Championship final. 28 March 2010.

Photographer: Steve Ryan from Groveland, CA, USA (Wikipedia)

In August of 2010, the chief of the Vilnius Mounted Police was arrested in Belarus after illegal drugs were found in his car. Chief of Police, Laimonas Bankauskas, claims the drugs were planted by the KGB in order to recruit him as a spy. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has asked leaders in Belarus for a prompt and impartial investigation into the case.

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

Hi there, I’m Jack and I’m Gintarė and welcome back to Lithuanian Out Loud where we offer the world the Lithuanian language.

photograph:

English: Synagogue in Vilnius

Lietuvių: Vilniaus sinagoga

photographer: Kontis Satunas (Vikipedija)

According to the BBC article, “Lithuanian Jews Revive Yiddish,” before World War II there were over 250,000 Jews in Lithuania. Because of the Nazi Holocaust there are only about 5,000 Jews in the country today and only a few can speak Yiddish. Members of the Lithuanian Jewish community are working hard to revive the language and one of the few places you can still hear Yiddish spoken in public is the Vilnius Choral Synagogue.

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

This is a quick response episode! We’ll say the word or phrase in English and you say it in Lithuanian – Out Loud! It’s too late for questions, the exam starts now. Ready, set, go! Pasiruošti, dėmesio, marš!

here you go

prašom

here you are

prašom

this is for you

prašom

thank you

ačiū

it’s nothing

nėra už ką

it’s nothing

nieko tokio

you’re welcome

nieko tokio

no sweat

nieko tokio

here you go

prašom

thank you

ačiū

it’s nothing

nėra už ką

here you go

prašom

thank you

dėkoju

it’s nothing

nėra už ką

thank you

dėkoju

thank you

dėkui

thanks

dėkui

thank to you (formal)

dėkui jums

thank you very much

labai dėkui

here you go

prašom

thank you

dėkoju

you’re welcome

prašom

you open a car door for someone and you say, please, allow me

prašom

thank you

dėkoju

you’re welcome

prašom

you open your front door and invite a friend in, you say, please come in

prašom

thank you

ačiū

it’s nothing

nėra už ką

you’re getting on a bus and you stand aside to let an elderly woman board before you, please, you first

prašom

thank you

dėkui jums

it’s nothing

nėra už ką

you’re sitting on the bus and a pregnant woman gets on board and has nowhere to sit, you get up and offer her your seat, you say, please, sit here

Hi there, I’m Jack and I’m Gintarė and welcome back to Lithuanian Out Loud where we offer the world the Lithuanian language.

The 500 litas or penki šimtai litų banknote protrays Vincas Kudirka who was the author of Tautiška Giesmė, the Lithuanian national anthem. The reverse depicts the Bell of Freedom and the Nemunas Loops. Inscribed are the words “o skambink per amžius vaikams Lietuva, kad laisvės nevertas, kas negina jos” or "Thou shall ring through the centuries to the children of Lithuania: he who does not defend freedom is not worthy of it". The Bell of Freedom was a newspaper published by Lithuanian patriots during the Russian occupation. The paper encouraged the Lithuanian people to fight for freedom.

photograph:

English: Trolley bus in Kaunas, Lithuania

Lietuvių: Troleibusas Kaune

photographer: phillip capper (vikipedija)

pradėkime, let’s get started

you can exchange a singular noun with jis or ji depending on its gender

this episode is a bit long so we’re splitting it into two separate programs

first, some vocabulary

an armchair

fotelis jis

a shoe

batas jis

a doughnut

spurga ji

a passport

pasas jis

a table

stalas jis

a wallet

piniginė ji

a wine glass

taurė ji

a basket

krepšys jis

a letter

laiškas jis

a pizza

pica ji

a bowl

dubuo jis

a kitchen

virtuvė ji

For example, you can say, the day is beautiful – diena yra graži, or you can simply say, ji yra graži when it’s understood you’re talking about the day.

Here is an exercise, we’ll say a noun in Lithuanian and you respond with jis or ji depending on the noun’s gender – sėkmės, good luck!

tiltas

jis

maistas

jis

pyragas

jis

pilis

ji

uostas

jis

gatvė

ji

aikštė

ji

paplūdimys

jis

ligoninė

ji

katedra

ji

kavinė

ji

taksi

jis

miestas

jis

šalis

ji

paštas

jis

Now, let’s go through some examples, but first some vocabulary

a wallet

piniginė

a kitchen

virtuvė

a letter

laiškas

a refridgerator

šaldytuvas

a plate

lėkštė

a pie

pyragas

ready

paruoštas / paruošta

oven

orkaitė

a castle

pilis

old

senas / sena

a forest

miškas

narrow

siauras / siaura

a beach

pliažas

popular

populiarus / populiari

clean

švarus / švari

coffeepot

kavinukas

a hospital

ligoninė

a symbol

simbolis

Ireland

Airija

green

žalias / žalia

large

didelis / didelė

I don’t have my wallet. It is in the car.

Neturiu savo piniginės. Ji yra mašinoje.

The wineglass is beautiful. It is very old.

Taurė yra graži. Ji yra labai sena.

Where is my beer? It is in the kitchen.

Kur mano alus? Jis yra virtuvėje.

I received a letter. It is from America.

Aš gavau laišką. Jis yra iš Amerikos.

I want more pizza. Where is it?

Noriu daugiau picos. Kur ji yra?

The bowl is blue. It is in the refridgerator.

Dubuo yra mėlynas. Jis yra šaldytuve.

I bought some milk. It is in the fridge.

Nupirkau pieno. Jis yra šaldytuve.

The bridge is wooden. It is very old.

Tiltas yra medinis. Jis yra labai senas.

The plate is from Mexico. It is very beautiful.

Lėkštė yra iš Meksikos. Ji yra labai graži.

The pie is not ready. It is still in the oven.

Pyragas yra neparuoštas. Jis vis dar orkaitėje.

The castle is in England. It is very old.

Pilis yra Anglijoje. Ji yra labai sena.

What is the name of that city? It is called Kaunas.

Kaip vadinasi tas miestas? Jis vadinasi Kaunas.

The street is narrow. It is in Vilnius.

Gatvė yra siaura. Ji yra Vilniuje.

The square is large. It is in Kaunas.

Aikštė yra didelė. Ji yra Kaune.

The beach is popular. It is near Palanga.

Pliažas yra populiarus. Jis yra prie Palangos.

The hospital is new. It is very clean.

Ligoninė yra nauja. Ji yra labai švari.

The cathedral is very old. It is Lithuania’s symbol.

Katedra yra labai sena. Ji yra Lietuvos simbolis.

The coffee shop is in Klaipėda. It is called, “Kavinukas.”

Kavinė yra Klaipėdoje. Ji vadinasi “Kavinukas.”

The car is here. It is in the street.

Automobilis yra čia. Jis yra gatvėje.

I love Ireland. It is very green.

Myliu Airiją. Ji yra labai žalia.

You have to go to the post office. It is downtown.

Turi važiuoti į paštą. Jis yra miesto centre.

We have a new armchair. It is in the living room.

Turime naują fotelį. Jis yra svetainėje.

We have a new table. It is in the kitchen.

Turime naują stalą. Jis yra virtuvėje.

We have a new car. It is in the street.

Turime naują mašiną. Ji yra gatvėje.

We have a new couch. It is in the living room.

Turime naują sofą. Ji yra svetainėje.

Okay, we’ll finish this up on the next regular episode.

Šaunuoliai! Great! You made it to the end of another episode! Nuostabu!